Dental Safety Tips for Your Children

A Common Bathroom
Dental Product Can Be Dangerous, Even Deadly to Your Child

Beware, a danger could be lurking in your bathroom.
Mouthwash can be hazardous to your small children. The majority
of mouthwashes contain a large percentage of alcohol. Some are
almost 30% alcohol. Children cannot tolerate alcohol well
because of their small body size. Consequently, mouthwash
ingested by small children can be dangerous and even
lethal.

To be safe, keep mouthwashes out of the sight and reach of
children who are often attracted by the colors and smells of
these dental products.

What Parents Should Know About Pacifiers

Pacifiers are a child's best friend comforting your child
and providing him or her with a sense of security. There are,
however, some things parents should know about pacifiers.

Constantly check the pacifier, especially the nipple
end, to make sure that it has not become brittle. Brittle
nipples can break, choking your child.

Reduce choking dangers by purchasing pacifiers made of
one solid molded piece, instead of those composed of
separate pieces fused together.

Never tie a pacifier around your child's neck. This can
potentially strangle your child.

Always purchase pacifiers containing holes in the mouth
guard section. These holes allow saliva to escape instead
of getting caught between the pacifier and the baby's lips
where it can cause skin rashes.

Concerns About Your Toothpaste?

Certain adult toothpastes can damage children's teeth.

Many toothpastes contain harsh abrasives to clean stains
from teeth. The problems is that in addition to removing,
these toothpastes can sometimes strip off tooth enamel.
Tooth enamel, unfortunately, can never be replaced.

Adults and children especially, should use toothpastes that
are minimally abrasive to protect tooth enamel. For
children able to spit out toothpaste, we suggest Enamel
Saver which is designed to be "mouth friendly. "

Fluoride, one of the most important dental advances of the
century, incorporates itself into tooth enamel making it more
resistant to cavities. As with other items good for the body
such as calcium, iron, and vitamins, too much fluoride can be
harmful.

The principle way in which children obtain too
much fluoride is by swallowing fluoride toothpaste. While
not harmful if it occurs occasionally, swallowing
toothpaste over long periods of time can lead to
fluorosis, a condition in which the tooth enamel becomes
brittle and discolored.

Make sure your child spits out toothpaste after
brushing. If your child is too young to do this (usually
under six years of age), consider using a fluoride free
toothpaste. Consult your pediatrician who can prescribe
fluoride supplements replacing the necessary fluoride
found in toothpaste.

Avoid Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

The common practice of putting babies to bed
with a nighttime bottle can lead to a mouthful of
cavities. Bacteria within the mouth feed on milk and
other juices creating cavity causing acid. Protect your
baby by providing only bedtime bottles containing
water.

Premature Births May Be Associated With Poor
Dental Health

According to a study conducted at the University
of North Carolina, gingivitis may be associated with
preterm, low birth weight deliveries. Mothers with
gingivitis may be six times more likely to give birth to
preterm, low birth weight babies. Overall, maternal
gingivitis could be responsible for over 18% of preterm,
low birth weight cases.

While the mechanism for this is unknown, doctors
hypothesize that bacteria responsible for gingivitis may
gain access to the bloodstream from where they can affect
the placenta or fetus. Alternatively, the body's own
immune response to bacteria could induce premature
delivery.

While more studies need to be completed to
verify a causal relationship between maternal gingivitis
and preterm deliveries, it may be a good idea for
expectant mothers to see a dentist. The dentist can treat
and reverse gingivitis potentially saving the future
fetus from harm.

Disclaimer: The information contained within is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as delivery of medical care.Those persons with specific medical questions should consult their dentist, doctor, or other medical care provider.